Saturday, July 21, 2012

Ramadan day 2 Richardson Mosque

Experiencing Ramadan

Please note that the Ramadan diary is written for our Muslim and non-Muslims friends alike, hence the language is un-typical. We will do our best to weave through references that our Christian, Hindu, Jewish and other friends can relate with. By the way, we have been talking (Radio) and writing about the essence of major festivities of all religions so we can understand each other. It is a call from God to learn about each other and know each other, when we do that, myths about others disappear, we open up to friendships without reserve or fear.

Tonight is the 2nd day of Ramadan, and
I went to the Richardson Mosque, my home Mosque (below) and the standard bearer
for North Texas Mosques. A majority of
the Mosques (Sunni tradition) more or less follow the traditions followed here.
This is the first “major” Mosque in North Texas and almost every Muslim who has
been in Dallas prior to turn of the century has been a part of this Mosque. Of
course we have over 35 Mosques and several Musallas (Mini-Mosques) in North
Texas; we have enough people to have one for every denomination.

The euphoria of Ramadan lends to the fellowship (Ramadan day 1) that we all
desire and look forward to. It generates the same good feeling of kindness and
piety that Christians feel during Christmas and Hindus during Navaratri, Jews
during Rosh Hashanah and others during their festivals.

The best way to enjoy Ramadan is to go early to the Mosque, and I went way too
early which lend me to talk with key people and of course, take pictures of
the sanctuary for my friends. For my Muslim friends, I highlight the uniqueness
of each denomination, much of which is cultural.

Click to enlarge 25 pics in the link

My first visit was with our Imam, Dr. Yusuf Zia Kavakci (more about him in the
links below) who and I have worked together on different occasions for almost
20 years from the Asian News days; he has been on my Radio show several times
in the Mid-Nineties. Our conversation is usually about intra-faith and interfaith
issues. In some of the most critical moments of my public life, he and Imam Zia
Shaikh of Irving have been great guides. There was a situation in 1996 and
again in 2005 at the Unity Day where we handled it fairly well. From time to time, he has appreciated my
approach that is free from the back-home-baggage.

Richardson Mosque has been a home Mosque to me,
although I do not go there frequently, it feels home. For those living outside the United States, you may
find this as a news item that almost every Muslim (both male and female) drives
to the mosque; there are no separate residential areas where people of any
religion live exclusively. Even though
there is a trend for developing smaller neighborhoods around the Mosques, it
will not become the life style. In the long haul integration (not assimilation)
is essential for the overall good of individual communities and nation as a
whole.

Click to enlarge 25 pics in the link

As I was walking out of Imam Kavakci’s office, I
ran into my friend Brother Muhammad Suleman, he was the past president of the Islamic Center and president during the 9/11
crisis, he was also featured in High Profile in Dallas Morning News, a great
honor for our community. He and I have worked on many projects together
including two years on my Radio show, wisdom of religion (all the religions),
where he and I spent two years on Radio talking about Islam on every Friday
morning for an hour. Please say your get
well prayers for Mrs. Suleman who is in hospital today.

900, yes, Nine Hundred people were in the
community hall waiting for the Adhan (prayer call) to signify the time to break
the fast. In Jerusalem, they fire a gun into air to signify end of Suhoor (pre dawn meal) as well as Iftaar. I was held at the check point for Masjid Al-Aqsa by an Israeli guard, that is another story. In smaller mosques, people gather around as a groups and there will a
personal announcement (refer to day 1) to break the fast.

Take a look at the plates on the tables, a piece of Banana, three dates, a
piece of water melon, a glass of milk and water. The plates were all set up for people to pick
one and take their seat at the tables. Once again, that is 5 billion dates
consumption across the world, today! Why dates? That is another story, I have
written two years ago, but will re-incorporate when I see dates are flooded in
some mosque this month. Each Mosque has evolved into its own practice.

After breaking the fast, the next call you hear is Aqama, fairly similar to the
Adhan right before the congregational prayers. Anyone can lead the
prayer, even though Dr. Yusuf Zia Kavakci is the imam (pastor, pundit, rabbi,
shaman, clergy, minister), he designates one of his students from his academy
to lead the prayers, and he has 60 Huffaz (plural for Hafiz, the one who
memorizes the whole Quraan) in Dallas, and one of them is the world renowned
one: Rashad Hussain the US Ambassador to OIC.

Click to enlarge 25 pics in the link

We were back to the community hall for dinner, a
large open building that accommodates nearly 1000 seated in theater style. The hall is used for basket ball and other community activities including interfaith dinners. Nearly
five years ago, my late wife Najma’s funeral prayers were held here, the Fire
Marshall did not allow more than 2200 people, the capacity for the standing
room, that’s how Muslim funeral prayers are conducted; in standing posture. She left in peace and thanks
to our friends from every faith for participating in the prayers.

Click to enlarge 25 pics in the link

Serving dinner for 900 people is not easy! Mr. Waqar Qazi runs the Silver Spoon
restaurant and has become quite adept in handling catering to large
gatherings. There are a few pictures of
the kitchen where the volunteers formed an assembly line that beats Henry Ford’s
assembly line; they placed the food on the plate consisting of Salad, Rice,
lentil-veggies, and Chicken curry in healthy portions. About 6 plates were
placed on a tray and put on the counter... the volunteers grabbed the tray and
walked to each table, and delivered the food…. All in 20 minutes! Yes 20
Minutes! That is amazing accuracy!

Click to enlarge 25 pics in the link

There was a senior citizen, who did not want to be pictured or named, but the
people in Richardson know him, he is probably in his seventies, but has the
energy of a young man and was managing the food serving and delivery very
effectively. He was literally running all over the place to ensure everything ran smoothly. Thanks to this unknown soldier.

The other lead volunteer (forgive me if there was another one) was Amir Omar,
the Richardson City Councilman (pictured with a tray in his hand, clean shaven
head). He is one of the four or five who made the trips from the counter to the
tables delivering all that food in 20 minutes.

Click to enlarge pic -25 pics in link

Today, he is one of the most popular council men in North Texas, because he is there with every community volunteering his time generously. He is an example of how to be a fully participating and contributing member of the society. He
is a true representative of Richardsonians. He is on facebook as well, tag him and show you support.

Yunus Anthony, announced
a gathering of new converts, and I regret not making it to that corner, but did
talk to him, who was also at the Carrollton Mosque yesterday. I hope he and his
group will serve as volunteers for the Unity Day event on Tuesday, September 11,
2012. God willing, I will be visiting Churches, Temples, Synagogues and other
places of worship to find volunteer to represent every race, ethnicity and
faith to be present at the Unity Day. www.UnitydayUSA.com

By the way years ago, Richardson Mosque started a Medical clinic to serve the
people who do not have insurance, it is for everyone, and people from all
faiths and traditions visit this clinic for care. I am proud of this clinic, where Muslims are
contributing to the well being of the overall society. Of course, there are
other initiatives and other clinics, and that will be expressed in a
different context.

Indeed, Richardson Mosque is an example of being
a part of the society, serving the society. I believe that is the purpose of a Mosque, a community center. More about the Mosque at www.Iant.com

Here are a few pieces I have written about Dr. Kavakci and others issues, I need to put together the work we did through MRRT, the Muslim Rapid Response Team in 2003 in responding to baseless allegations that the local media levied on the Imam and this Mosque. Thanks to Dallas Morning News for publishing it.

Mike Ghouse is committed to doing his individual share
of building cohesive societies and invites you to the 8th Annual Unity Day USA
on Tuesday, September 11, 2012. Details at www.UnitydayUSA.com, it’s an event
that builds bridges and uplifts every American. Watch the trailer of the upcoming film - Americans Together, building a cohesive America at www.AmericaTogetherFoundation.com

I have just come across you blog and am absolutely chuffed to read your article about the Richardson Mosque. Very well written and such a pleasure to read. Cannot wait to read more.Thank you for a wonderful read.

PICTURES AROUND THE WORLD

Prayer Postures

Prayer positions

Happy Ramadan

Our Mission

To be a Muslim is to be a peace maker, one who constantly seeks to mitigate conflicts and nurtures goodwill for peaceful co-existence of humanity. God wants us to live in peace and harmony with his creation; Life and Matter.

We are driven by the Qur'an, Al-Hujurat, Surah 49:13: "O mankind! We have created you male and female, and have made you nations and tribes that ye may know one another. The noblest of you, in sight of Allah, is the best in conduct. Allah Knows and is Aware."

Our Mission is to work for a world of co-existence through inclusiveness and participation. As a member of diverse family of faiths, our efforts will be directed towards justice and equity to attain peace for the humankind with a firm grounding in commonly held values. We cannot have advantages at the cost of others. Such benefits are temporary and deleterious to lasting peace. We believe what is good for Muslims has got to be good for the world, and vice versa, to sustain it.

Indeed we aspire to promote goodwill amongst people of different affiliations, regardless of their faith, gender, race, nationality, culture or any other uniqueness blessed by the creator.